Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study cohort, stratified by quartile of tracheostomy timing
|  | Quartile 1 Tracheostomy ≤ 15 days (n = 26) | Quartile 2 Tracheostomy 16–19 days (n = 23) | Quartile 3 Tracheostomy 20–26 days (n = 25) | Quartile 4 Tracheostomy > 26 days (n = 24) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age, years | 63.0 (49.0–75.8) | 57.0 (49.0–76.5) | 65.0 (52.0–75.0) | 54.5 (15.0–64.5) | 0.085 |
Sex, male | 20 (76.9%) | 19 (82.6%) | 13 (52.0%) | 15 (62.5%) | 0.095 |
Body mass index, kg/m2 | 22.0 (20.5–24.6) | 23.0 (18.7–26.3) | 22.2 (20.5–24.7) | 19.8 (18.1–22.9) | 0.297 |
Comorbidity | |||||
 Chronic heart failure | 6 (23.1%) | 7 (30.4%) | 8 (32.0%) | 9 (37.5%) | 0.759 |
 Chronic respiratory failure | 7 (26.9%) | 5 (21.7%) | 5 (20.0%) | 3 (12.5%) | 0.668 |
 Chronic liver disease | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (4.0%) | 0 (0%) | 0.735 |
 Malignancy | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (4.2%) | 0.480 |
 Immunodeficiency | 1 (3.8%) | 4 (17.4%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (8.3%) | 0.072 |
 Maintenance dialysis | 3 (11.5%) | 1 (4.3%) | 1 (4.0%) | 2 (8.3%) | 0.801 |
Emergency admission | 23 (88.5%) | 15 (65.2%) | 21 (84.0%) | 17 (70.8%) | 0.176 |
APACHE II score | 18.5 (17.0–22.8) | 18.0 (14.5–21.0) | 18.0 (14.0–21.0) | 17.0 (12.5–20.0) | 0.329 |
COVID-19 infection | 0 (0%) | 1 (4.3%) | 0 (0%) | 4 (16.7%) | 0.016 |
Diagnosis for ECMO indication | |||||
 Heart failure (non-surgical) | 4 (15.4%) | 3 (13.0%) | 7 (28.0%) | 6 (25.0%) | 0.459 |
 Respiratory failure (non-surgical) | 2 (7.7%) | 2 (8.7%) | 0 (0%) | 4 (16.7%) | |
 Cardiovascular surgery | 13 (50.0%) | 14 (60.9%) | 12 (48%) | 12 (50.0%) | |
 Thoracic surgery | 1 (3.8%) | 2 (8.7%) | 1 (4.0%) | 1 (4.2%) |  |
 Cardiac arrest | 6 (23.1%) | 2 (8.7%) | 5 (20.0%) | 1 (4.2%) |  |
Sternotomy | 13 (50.0%) | 15 (65.2%) | 14 (56.0%) | 14 (58.3%) | 0.771 |
ECMO configuration | |||||
 VV | 5 (19.2%) | 3 (13.0%) | 1 (4.0%) | 4 (16.7%) | 0.379 |
 VA | 21 (80.8%) | 20 (87%) | 24 (96%) | 20 (83.3%) | |